Valtice town
The town of Valtice is part of the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape and is located in the Lower Moravian Plain, 50 km (~31.07 mi) south of Brno and 10 km (~6.21 mi) west of Břeclav, near the Austrian border. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known as the center of Moravian winemaking, in the heart of the Mikulovská wine region. The Valtice Castle also houses the National Wine Center of the Czech Republic and the Wine Salon.
The Baroque Palace
Valtice Palace (German name Feldsberg) was owned by the Lichtenstein royal family. The Lichtenstein family was one of the most influential ruling families in the Danube region. The family comes from Lower Austria, near Vienna, and their history spans at least 600 years. The palace is a four-winged, three-story building built in the Baroque architectural style. It also includes a castle park, stables, riding school, gallery, chapel, carriage house and theater.
Architecture and decoration
The Baroque style emerged as a response to the classical forms of Renaissance architecture. Its architecture is characterized by ornate details, dynamic arches, and complex forms. It creates drama to impress and evoke emotional responses. Its spacious, ornate spaces include grand staircases, domes, and illusionistic ceiling paintings, with themes of the mystical, dramatic, and biblical.
“We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals.”
– Stephen Covey